Techniques for wireless communications using multiple cyclic prefix types

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present disclosure describe receiving a first communication according to a first timeline, wherein the first timeline is based on a first cyclic prefix (CP) type, and receiving a second communication according to a second timeline, where the second timeline is based on a second CP type, and where the second communication is multiplexed with the first communication in the same slot.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 119

The present Application for Patent claims priority to ProvisionalApplication No. 62/629,355, entitled “TECHNIQUES FOR WIRELESSCOMMUNICATIONS USING MULTIPLE CYCLIC PREFIX TYPES” filed Feb. 12, 2018,which is assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expresslyincorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wirelesscommunication systems, and more particularly, to the use of cyclicprefix (CP) in wireless communications.

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication content such as voice, video, packet data,messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be multiple-accesssystems capable of supporting communication with multiple users bysharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, andpower). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code-divisionmultiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA)systems, frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) systems, andorthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, andsingle-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems.

These multiple access technologies have been adopted in varioustelecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enablesdifferent wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national,regional, and even global level. For example, a fifth generation (5G)wireless communications technology (which can be referred to as 5G newradio (5G NR)) is envisaged to expand and support diverse usagescenarios and applications with respect to current mobile networkgenerations. In an aspect, 5G communications technology can include:enhanced mobile broadband addressing human-centric use cases for accessto multimedia content, services and data; ultra-reliable-low latencycommunications (URLLC) with certain specifications for latency andreliability; and massive machine type communications, which can allow avery large number of connected devices and transmission of a relativelylow volume of non-delay-sensitive information. As the demand for mobilebroadband access continues to increase, however, further improvements in5G communications technology and beyond may be desired.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects inorder to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary isnot an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intendedto neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nordelineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is topresent some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

According to an example, a method for wireless communication isprovided. The method includes receiving a first communication accordingto a first timeline, wherein the first timeline is based on a firstcyclic prefix (CP) type, receiving a second communication according to asecond timeline, where the second timeline is based on a second CP type,and where the second communication is multiplexed with the firstcommunication in the same slot, decoding the first communication basedon a first length of the first CP type, and decoding the secondcommunication based on a second length of the second CP type.

In another example, an apparatus for wireless communication is providedthat includes a transceiver, a memory configured to store instructions,and one or more processors communicatively coupled with the transceiverand the memory. The one or more processors are configured to receive afirst communication according to a first timeline, wherein the firsttimeline is based on a first CP type, receive a second communicationaccording to a second timeline, where the second timeline is based on asecond CP type, and where the second communication is multiplexed withthe first communication in the same slot, decode the first communicationbased on a first length of the first CP type, and decode the secondcommunication based on a second length of the second CP type.

According to an example, an apparatus for wireless communication isprovided that includes means for receiving a first communicationaccording to a first timeline, wherein the first timeline is based on afirst CP type, means for receiving a second communication according to asecond timeline, where the second timeline is based on a second CP type,and where the second communication is multiplexed with the firstcommunication in the same slot, means for decoding the firstcommunication based on a first length of the first CP type, and meansfor decoding the second communication based on a second length of thesecond CP type.

In another example, a computer-readable medium is provided includingcode executable by one or more processors for wireless communications.The code includes code for receiving a first communication according toa first timeline, wherein the first timeline is based on a first CPtype, code for receiving a second communication according to a secondtimeline, where the second timeline is based on a second CP type, andwhere the second communication is multiplexed with the firstcommunication in the same slot, code for decoding the firstcommunication based on a first length of the first CP type, and code fordecoding the second communication based on a second length of the secondCP type.

In another example, a method for wireless communication is provided. Themethod includes multiplexing, within a slot, a first communication basedon a first CP type and a second communication based on a second CP type,and transmitting, within the slot, the first communication based on afirst timeline and the second communication based on the secondtimeline.

In another example, an apparatus for wireless communication is providedthat includes a transceiver, a memory configured to store instructions,and one or more processors communicatively coupled with the transceiverand the memory. The one or more processors are configured to multiplex,within a slot, a first communication based on a first CP type and asecond communication based on a second CP type, and transmit, within theslot, the first communication based on a first timeline and the secondcommunication based on the second timeline.

In another example, an apparatus for wireless communication is providedincluding means for multiplexing, within a slot, a first communicationbased on a first CP type and a second communication based on a second CPtype, and means for transmitting, within the slot, the firstcommunication based on a first timeline and the second communicationbased on the second timeline.

In another example, a computer-readable medium is provided includingcode executable by one or more processors for wireless communications.The code includes code for multiplexing, within a slot, a firstcommunication based on a first CP type and a second communication basedon a second CP type, and code for transmitting, within the slot, thefirst communication based on a first timeline and the secondcommunication based on the second timeline.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or moreaspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative featuresof the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, ofbut a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspectsmay be employed, and this description is intended to include all suchaspects and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed aspects will hereinafter be described in conjunction withthe appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit thedisclosed aspects, wherein like designations denote like elements, andin which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system, inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a base station, inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a UE, in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method formultiplexing communications having different cyclic prefix (CP) types,in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method for receivingcommunications having different CP types, in accordance with variousaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates examples of slot formats, in accordance with variousaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates examples of partial slot formats for defining rulesto interpolate communication directions for symbols, in accordance withvarious aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a timeline for multiplexingcommunications based on different CP types, in accordance with variousaspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a MIMOcommunication system including a base station and a UE, in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects are now described with reference to the drawings. In thefollowing description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specificdetails are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding ofone or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that such aspect(s) maybe practiced without these specific details.

The described features generally relate to supporting multiple cyclicprefix (CP) types in wireless communications. As described, nodes in awireless network, such as a fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR)configured network, can be configured with different CP types fordifferent links, different signals transmitted over the different links,etc. In an example, a node can be configured to communicate (e.g.,transmit or receive) signals with one or more other nodes using adifferent CP type for each of at least two signals, where using thedifferent CP type may result in a different timeline for thecommunications as well. For example, a base station can transmit one ormore broadcast signals using a normal CP and can multiplex, with the oneor more broadcast signals, one or more unicast signals that use anextended CP. In this example, a user equipment (UE) or other node canreceive the one or more broadcast signals and/or unicast signals, whichcan be multiplexed (e.g., in a given slot), and may each use a differentCP type. In an example, a slot format configuration for the normal CPand extended CP communications can be coordinated to provide a desirablelevel of compatibility to minimize conflicting communication directions(e.g., uplink vs. downlink) between symbols in the slot.

For example, NR UEs can be semi-statically configured with a specificnumerology (e.g., numerology can refer to a CP overhead and/orsubcarrier spacing (SCS)), where NR can support extended CP at least for60 kilohertz (kHz) SCS. In this configuration, for example, one slot caninclude 12 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. NRcan also support normal CP where one slot can include 14 OFDM symbols.Additionally, in NR, uplink and downlink can be configured withdifferent CP types (e.g., normal or extended CP). Additionalconfigurations for using CP may be desired.

In addition, slot format configuration for wireless networks such as 5GNR can be semi-static and group-specific. Each slot can include aplurality of symbols, where each symbol can be configured for eitherdownlink, uplink, or flexible communications. The slots configured forflexible communications can be dynamically reconfigured as downlink oruplink in a dynamic and/or UE-specific manner (e.g., by using groupcommon physical downlink control channel (GC-PDCCH) to dynamicallyconfigure the flexible symbols). Additionally, for example, CP type orlength (e.g., normal CP, extended CP, etc.) configuration can besemi-static and UE-specific, and different CP types can be associatedwith different timelines (e.g., a different number of symbols in asimilar length slot, where a timeline can correspond to the number ofsymbols in a slot, a corresponding duration for the symbols or slot,etc.). In one specific example, some signals, such as primarysynchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS),multicast physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), etc., may beconfigured to use normal CP while other unicast transmissions maybeconfigured with extended CP in the same slot. This can result inmultiplexing of normal CP and extended CP communications in the sameslot. Normal CP slot formats can be based on using a first number ofOFDM symbols (e.g., 14) per slot, whereas extended CP slot formats canbe based on using a second number of OFDM symbols (e.g., 12) per slot,which can result in different communication timelines per slot.

Aspects described herein relate to multiplexing normal CP and extendedCP communications, which may include adapting a slot format to use withone CP type based on the slot format defined for another CP type, wherethe slot formats may be based on different timelines. Adapting the slotformat using concepts described herein can lessen or minimize conflictin transmission direction between symbols of the slot formats that occurat the same or similar times. In one example, network nodes can derivethe slot format for one CP type based on the slot format for another CPtype and/or based on associated timelines of the CP types. In anotherexample, a network node (e.g., the base station) can configure anothernetwork node (e.g., the UE) with the slot formats to use for each CPtype (e.g., by specifying an indicator representing the slot format,such as a slot format indicator (SFI) in the configuration), where theslot formats may exhibit some level of compatibility between the typesof configured symbols in the slot. In any case, the network nodes can beaccordingly configured to communicate multiplexed signals that are basedon different CP types and/or associated with different correspondingtimelines while decreasing conflict in communication direction betweensymbols on the multiple timelines.

The described features will be presented in more detail below withreference to FIGS. 1-7.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “module,” “system”and the like are intended to include a computer-related entity, such asbut not limited to hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. For example, a componentmay be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program,and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application runningon a computing device and the computing device can be a component. Oneor more components can reside within a process and/or thread ofexecution and a component can be localized on one computer and/ordistributed between two or more computers. In addition, these componentscan execute from various computer readable media having various datastructures stored thereon. The components can communicate by way oflocal and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal havingone or more data packets, such as data from one component interactingwith another component in a local system, distributed system, and/oracross a network such as the Internet with other systems by way of thesignal.

Techniques described herein may be used for various wirelesscommunication systems such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, andother systems. The terms “system” and “network” may often be usedinterchangeably. A CDMA system may implement a radio technology such asCDMA2000, Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc. CDMA 2000covers IS-2000, IS-95, and IS-856 standards. IS-2000 Releases 0 and Aare commonly referred to as CDMA2000 1×, 1×, etc. IS-856 (TIA-856) iscommonly referred to as CDMA2000 1×EV-DO, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD),etc. UTRA includes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. ATDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Global System forMobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA system may implement a radiotechnology such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA),IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM™, etc.UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System(UMTS). 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) are newreleases of UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, andGSM are described in documents from an organization named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project” (3GPP). CDMA2000 and UMB are describedin documents from an organization named “3rd Generation PartnershipProject 2” (3GPP2). The techniques described herein may be used for thesystems and radio technologies mentioned above as well as other systemsand radio technologies, including cellular (e.g., LTE) communicationsover a shared radio frequency spectrum band. The description below,however, describes an LTE/LTE-A system for purposes of example, and LTEterminology is used in much of the description below, although thetechniques are applicable beyond LTE/LTE-A applications (e.g., to 5Gnetworks or other next generation communication systems).

The following description provides examples, and is not limiting of thescope, applicability, or examples set forth in the claims. Changes maybe made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. Various examples may omit,substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. Forinstance, the methods described may be performed in an order differentfrom that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, orcombined. Also, features described with respect to some examples may becombined in other examples.

Various aspects or features will be presented in terms of systems thatcan include a number of devices, components, modules, and the like. Itis to be understood and appreciated that the various systems can includeadditional devices, components, modules, etc. and/or may not include allof the devices, components, modules etc. discussed in connection withthe figures. A combination of these approaches can also be used.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system 100 inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The wirelesscommunication system 100 may include one or more base stations 105, oneor more UEs 115, and a core network 130. The core network 130 mayprovide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, internetprotocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobilityfunctions. The base stations 105 may interface with the core network 130through backhaul links 132 (e.g., S1, etc.). The base stations 105 mayperform radio configuration and scheduling for communication with theUEs 115, or may operate under the control of a base station controller(not shown). In various examples, the base stations 105 may communicate,either directly or indirectly (e.g., through core network 130), with oneanother over backhaul links 134 (e.g., X2, etc.), which may be wired orwireless communication links.

The base stations 105 may wirelessly communicate with the UEs 115 viaone or more base station antennas. Each of the base stations 105 mayprovide communication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area110. In some examples, base stations 105 may be referred to as a networkentity, a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an accesspoint, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, eNodeB (eNB), Home NodeB, a HomeeNodeB, gNB (e.g., in 5G NR) or some other suitable terminology. Thegeographic coverage area 110 for a base station 105 may be divided intosectors making up only a portion of the coverage area (not shown). Thewireless communication system 100 may include base stations 105 ofdifferent types (e.g., macro or small cell base stations). There may beoverlapping geographic coverage areas 110 for different technologies.

In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may be orinclude a Long Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network. Thewireless communication system 100 may also be a next generation network,such as a 5G wireless communication network. In LTE/LTE-A networks, theterm evolved node B (eNB) (e.g., or gNB in 5G networks), etc. may begenerally used to describe the base stations 105, while the term UE maybe generally used to describe the UEs 115. The wireless communicationsystem 100 may be a heterogeneous LTE/LTE-A network in which differenttypes of eNBs provide coverage for various geographical regions. Forexample, each eNB or base station 105 may provide communication coveragefor a macro cell, a small cell, or other types of cell. The term “cell”is a 3GPP term that can be used to describe a base station, a carrier orcomponent carrier associated with a base station, or a coverage area(e.g., sector, etc.) of a carrier or base station, depending on context.

A macro cell may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., severalkilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs 115 withservice subscriptions with the network provider.

A small cell may include a lower-powered base station, as compared witha macro cell, that may operate in the same or different (e.g., licensed,unlicensed, etc.) frequency bands as macro cells. Small cells mayinclude pico cells, femto cells, and micro cells according to variousexamples. A pico cell, for example, may cover a small geographic areaand may allow unrestricted access by UEs 115 with service subscriptionswith the network provider. A femto cell may also cover a smallgeographic area (e.g., a home) and may provide restricted access by UEs115 having an association with the femto cell (e.g., UEs 115 in a closedsubscriber group (CSG), UEs 115 for users in the home, and the like). AneNB for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro eNB, gNB, etc. An eNBfor a small cell may be referred to as a small cell eNB, a pico eNB, afemto eNB, or a home eNB. An eNB may support one or multiple (e.g., two,three, four, and the like) cells (e.g., component carriers).

The communication networks that may accommodate some of the variousdisclosed examples may be packet-based networks that operate accordingto a layered protocol stack and data in the user plane may be based onthe IP. A packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer can provideheader compression, ciphering, integrity protection, etc. of IP packets.A radio link control (RLC) layer may perform packet segmentation andreassembly to communicate over logical channels. A media access control(MAC) layer may perform priority handling and multiplexing of logicalchannels into transport channels. The MAC layer may also use HARQ toprovide retransmission at the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. Inthe control plane, the radio resource control (RRC) protocol layer mayprovide establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRCconnection between a UE 115 and the base stations 105. The RRC protocollayer may also be used for core network 130 support of radio bearers forthe user plane data. At the physical (PHY) layer, the transport channelsmay be mapped to physical channels.

The UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout the wireless communicationsystem 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary or mobile. A UE 115 mayalso include or be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobilestation, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, awireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, awireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriberstation, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, aremote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, orsome other suitable terminology. A UE 115 may be a cellular phone, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wirelesscommunication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptopcomputer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, anentertainment device, a vehicular component, or the like. A UE may beable to communicate with various types of base stations and networkequipment including macro eNBs, small cell eNBs, relay base stations,and the like.

The communication links 125 shown in wireless communication system 100may carry UL transmissions from a UE 115 to a base station 105, ordownlink (DL) transmissions, from a base station 105 to a UE 115. Thedownlink transmissions may also be called forward link transmissionswhile the uplink transmissions may also be called reverse linktransmissions. Each communication link 125 may include one or morecarriers, where each carrier may be a signal made up of multiplesub-carriers (e.g., waveform signals of different frequencies) modulatedaccording to the various radio technologies described above. Eachmodulated signal may be sent on a different sub-carrier and may carrycontrol information (e.g., reference signals, control channels, etc.),overhead information, user data, etc. The communication links 125 maytransmit bidirectional communications using frequency division duplex(FDD) (e.g., using paired spectrum resources) or time division duplex(TDD) operation (e.g., using unpaired spectrum resources). Framestructures may be defined for FDD (e.g., frame structure type 1) and TDD(e.g., frame structure type 2).

In aspects of the wireless communication system 100, base stations 105or UEs 115 may include multiple antennas for employing antenna diversityschemes to improve communication quality and reliability between basestations 105 and UEs 115. Additionally or alternatively, base stations105 or UEs 115 may employ multiple input multiple output (MIMO)techniques that may take advantage of multi-path environments totransmit multiple spatial layers carrying the same or different codeddata.

Wireless communication system 100 may support operation on multiplecells or carriers, a feature which may be referred to as carrieraggregation (CA) or multi-carrier operation. A carrier may also bereferred to as a component carrier (CC), a layer, a channel, etc. Theterms “carrier,” “component carrier,” “cell,” and “channel” may be usedinterchangeably herein. A UE 115 may be configured with multipledownlink CCs and one or more uplink CCs for carrier aggregation. Carrieraggregation may be used with both FDD and TDD component carriers.

In aspects of the wireless communication system 100, one or more of thebase stations 105 may include a multiplexing component 240 formultiplexing communications using different CP types for communicationaccording to different timelines, which may be based on a lengthassociated with the CP type. One or more of the UEs 115 may include acommunicating component 340 for receiving and decoding multiplexedcommunications that are based on the different CP types. Additionally,in some examples, the one or more UEs 115 may additionally oralternatively include a multiplexing component 240 to multiplexcommunications of different CP types, according to aspects describedherein, and/or the one or more base stations 105 may include acommunicating component 340 for receiving and decoding the multiplexedcommunications. Moreover, in an example, different UEs 115 may includethe multiplexing component 240 and/or communicating component 340 tofacilitate UE-to-UE communications, etc.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-8, aspects are depicted with reference to one ormore components and one or more methods that may perform the actions oroperations described herein, where aspects in dashed line may beoptional. Although the operations described below in FIGS. 4-5 arepresented in a particular order and/or as being performed by an examplecomponent, it should be understood that the ordering of the actions andthe components performing the actions may be varied, depending on theimplementation. Moreover, it should be understood that the followingactions, functions, and/or described components may be performed by aspecially-programmed processor, a processor executingspecially-programmed software or computer-readable media, or by anyother combination of a hardware component and/or a software componentcapable of performing the described actions or functions.

Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram 200 is shown that includes aportion of a wireless communications system having multiple UEs 115 incommunication with a base station 105 via communication links 125, wherethe base station 105 is also connected to a network 210. The UEs 115 maybe examples of the UEs described in the present disclosure that areconfigured to receive and decode multiplexed communications of differentCP types (e.g., communications that may overlap in a time domain).Moreover the base station 105 may be an example of the base stationsdescribed in the present disclosure (e.g., eNB, gNB, other types ofaccess points, etc. providing one or more macrocells, small cells, etc.)that are configured to multiplex and transmit communications that usedifferent CP types that may correspond to different communicationtimelines.

In an aspect, the base station in FIG. 2 may include one or moreprocessors 205 and/or memory 202 that may operate in combination with amultiplexing component 240 to perform the functions, methods (e.g.,method 400 of FIG. 4), etc. presented in the present disclosure. Inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the multiplexingcomponent 240 may include one or more components for multiplexingcommunications having different CP types (and thus perhaps differentcommunication timelines). In an example, multiplexing component 240 mayinclude a slot format indicating component 242 for indicating a slotformat associated with a first CP type, and/or a slot format derivingcomponent 244 for deriving or interpolating (and/or additionallyindicating) a second slot format associated with a second CP type.

The one or more processors 205 may include a modem 220 that uses one ormore modem processors. The various functions related to the multiplexingcomponent 240, and/or its sub-components, may be included in modem 220and/or processor 205 and, in an aspect, can be executed by a singleprocessor, while in other aspects, different ones of the functions maybe executed by a combination of two or more different processors. Forexample, in an aspect, the one or more processors 205 may include anyone or any combination of a modem processor, or a baseband processor, ora digital signal processor, or a transmit processor, or a transceiverprocessor associated with transceiver 270, or a system-on-chip (SoC). Inparticular, the one or more processors 205 may execute functions andcomponents included in the multiplexing component 240. In anotherexample, multiplexing component 240 may operate at one or morecommunication layers, such as a physical layer (e.g., layer 1 (L1)),media access control (MAC) layer (e.g., layer 2 (L2)), PDCP layer or RLClayer (e.g., layer 3 (L3)), etc., to multiplex communications and/ortransmit an indication of a slot format for one or more CP types, etc.

In some examples, the multiplexing component 240 and each of thesub-components may comprise hardware, firmware, and/or software and maybe configured to execute code or perform instructions stored in a memory(e.g., a computer-readable storage medium, such as memory 202 discussedbelow). Moreover, in an aspect, the base station 105 in FIG. 2 mayinclude a radio frequency (RF) front end 290 and transceiver 270 forreceiving and transmitting radio transmissions to, for example, UEs 115.The transceiver 270 may coordinate with the modem 220 to receive signalsfor, or transmit signals generated by, the multiplexing component 240 tothe UEs. RF front end 290 may be connected to one or more antennas 273and can include one or more switches 292, one or more amplifiers (e.g.,power amplifiers (PAs) 294 and/or low-noise amplifiers 291), and one ormore filters 293 for transmitting and receiving RF signals on uplinkchannels and downlink channels, transmitting and receiving signals, etc.In an aspect, the components of the RF front end 290 can connect withtransceiver 270. The transceiver 270 may connect to one or more of modem220 and processors 205.

The transceiver 270 may be configured to transmit (e.g., via transmitter(TX) radio 275) and receive (e.g., via receiver (RX) radio 280) wirelesssignals through antennas 273 via the RF front end 290. In an aspect, thetransceiver 270 may be tuned to operate at specified frequencies suchthat the base station 105 can communicate with, for example, UEs 115. Inan aspect, for example, the modem 220 can configure the transceiver 270to operate at a specified frequency and power level based on theconfiguration of the base station 105 and communication protocol used bythe modem 220.

The base station 105 in FIG. 2 may further include a memory 202, such asfor storing data used herein and/or local versions of applications ormultiplexing component 240 and/or one or more of its sub-componentsbeing executed by processor 205. Memory 202 can include any type ofcomputer-readable medium usable by a computer or processor 205, such asrandom access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tapes, magneticdiscs, optical discs, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and anycombination thereof. In an aspect, for example, memory 202 may be acomputer-readable storage medium that stores one or morecomputer-executable codes defining multiplexing component 240 and/or oneor more of its sub-components. Additionally or alternatively, the basestation 105 may include a bus 211 for coupling one or more of the RFfront end 290, the transceiver 274, the memory 202, or the processor205, and to exchange signaling information between each of thecomponents and/or sub-components of the base station 105.

In an aspect, the processor(s) 205 may correspond to one or more of theprocessors described in connection with the base station in FIG. 9.Similarly, the memory 202 may correspond to the memory described inconnection with the base station in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is shown that includes aportion of a wireless communications system having multiple UEs 115 incommunication with a base station 105 via communication links 125, wherethe base station 105 is also connected to a network 210. The UEs 115 maybe examples of the UEs described in the present disclosure that areconfigured to receive and decode multiplexed communications of differentCP types (e.g., communications that may overlap in a time domain).Moreover the base station 105 may be an example of the base stationsdescribed in the present disclosure (e.g., eNB, gNB, other types ofaccess points, etc. providing one or more macrocells, small cells, etc.)that are configured to multiplex and transmit communications that usedifferent CP types that may correspond to different communicationtimelines.

In an aspect, the UE 115 in FIG. 3 may include one or more processors305 and/or memory 302 that may operate in combination with acommunicating component 340 to perform the functions, methods (e.g.,method 500 of FIG. 5), etc., presented in the present disclosure. Inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the communicatingcomponent 340 may include one or more components for receiving anddecoding multiplexed communications having different CP types. Forexample, communicating component 340 can include a slot formatdetermining component 342 for determining a slot format for a receivedcommunication related to a first CP type, and/or a slot format derivingcomponent 344 for deriving a slot format for a received communicationsrelated to a second CP type. In an example, communicating component 340can receive and decode communications received according to the firstand second CP types.

The one or more processors 305 may include a modem 320 that uses one ormore modem processors. The various functions related to thecommunicating component 340, and/or its sub-components, may be includedin modem 320 and/or processor 305 and, in an aspect, can be executed bya single processor, while in other aspects, different ones of thefunctions may be executed by a combination of two or more differentprocessors. For example, in an aspect, the one or more processors 305may include any one or any combination of a modem processor, or abaseband processor, or a digital signal processor, or a transmitprocessor, or a transceiver processor associated with transceiver 370,or a system-on-chip (SoC). In particular, the one or more processors 305may execute functions and components included in the communicatingcomponent 340. In another example, communicating component 340 mayoperate at one or more communication layers, such as physical layer orL1, MAC layer or L2, a PDCP/RLC layer or L3, etc., to receivecommunications having different CP types, receive slot format indicatorsfor communications related to the one or more of the different CP types,etc.

In some examples, the communicating component 340 and each of thesub-components may comprise hardware, firmware, and/or software and maybe configured to execute code or perform instructions stored in a memory(e.g., a computer-readable storage medium, such as memory 302 discussedbelow). Moreover, in an aspect, the UE 115 in FIG. 3 may include an RFfront end 390 and transceiver 370 for receiving and transmitting radiotransmissions to, for example, base stations 105. The transceiver 370may coordinate with the modem 320 to receive signals that includepackets (e.g., and/or one or more related PDUs). RF front end 390 may beconnected to one or more antennas 373 and can include one or moreswitches 392, one or more amplifiers (e.g., PAs 394 and/or LNAs 391),and one or more filters 393 for transmitting and receiving RF signals onuplink channels and downlink channels. In an aspect, the components ofthe RF front end 390 can connect with transceiver 370. The transceiver370 may connect to one or more of modem 320 and processors 305.

The transceiver 370 may be configured to transmit (e.g., via transmitter(TX) radio 375) and receive (e.g., via receiver (RX) radio 380) wirelesssignals through antennas 373 via the RF front end 390. In an aspect, thetransceiver 370 may be tuned to operate at specified frequencies suchthat the UE 115 can communicate with, for example, base stations 105. Inan aspect, for example, the modem 320 can configure the transceiver 370to operate at a specified frequency and power level based on theconfiguration of the UE 115 and communication protocol used by the modem320.

The UE 115 in FIG. 3 may further include a memory 302, such as forstoring data used herein and/or local versions of applications orcommunicating component 340 and/or one or more of its sub-componentsbeing executed by processor 305. Memory 302 can include any type ofcomputer-readable medium usable by a computer or processor 305, such asRAM, ROM, tapes, magnetic discs, optical discs, volatile memory,non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof. In an aspect, forexample, memory 302 may be a computer-readable storage medium thatstores one or more computer-executable codes defining communicatingcomponent 340 and/or one or more of its sub-components. Additionally oralternatively, the UE 115 may include a bus 311 for coupling one or moreof the RF front end 390, the transceiver 374, the memory 302, or theprocessor 305, and to exchange signaling information between each of thecomponents and/or sub-components of the UE 115.

In an aspect, the processor(s) 305 may correspond to one or more of theprocessors described in connection with the UE in FIG. 9. Similarly, thememory 302 may correspond to the memory described in connection with theUE in FIG. 9.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of an example of a method 400 formultiplexing (e.g., by a base station) communications having differentCP types. In an example, a UE can also perform the functions describedin method 400 and/or include the corresponding components of FIG. 2 tomultiplex communications having different CP types.

Optionally, at Block 402, a first slot format for a first CP type can bedetermined. In an aspect, slot format indicating component 242, e.g., inconjunction with processor(s) 205, memory 202, transceiver 270,multiplexing component 240, etc., can determine a first slot format fora first CP type. For example, slot format indicating component 242 canselect the first slot format based on one or more parameters related tocommunicating with a UE 115, such as a signal strength or quality, aload at the base station 105, a buffer status report from the UE 115indicating an amount of data to transmit, a quality of service (QoS),bit rate, or other performance metric for one or more links or bearers,etc. For example, the slot format may correspond to defining a numberand/or pattern of symbols in a slot for a communication direction (e.g.,downlink, uplink, etc.). The slot format may also include one or moreflexible symbols that may be dynamically configured for downlink oruplink communications. In an example, a wireless technology, such as 5GNR, may define a number of slot formats that specify a number and/orpattern of downlink, uplink, or flexible symbols in a slot.

For example, FIG. 6 illustrates an example of slot formats 600, 610 thatare defined in 5G NR for normal CP. For example, slot format 600includes three downlink symbols, followed by eight flexible symbols,followed by three uplink symbols, for a total of 14 symbols in the slot.In another example, slot format 610 includes two downlink symbols,followed by a flexible symbol, followed by four uplink symbols, followedby two downlink symbols, followed by a flexible symbol, followed bythree uplink symbols for a total of 14 symbols in the slot. In anexample, slot format indicating component 242 can select the slot formatfor a first CP type (e.g., normal CP) based on one or more slot formatsdefined in a wireless communication technology, such as 5G NR.

Optionally, at Block 404, an indicator for the first slot format can betransmitted. In an aspect, slot format indicating component 242, e.g.,in conjunction with processor(s) 205, memory 202, transceiver 270,multiplexing component 240, etc., can transmit the indicator of thefirst slot format. For example, slot format indicating component 242 cantransmit the indicator to one or more UEs 115 by using an indicator in aconfiguration or related signaling, such as in downlink controlinformation (DCI) in a downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH), etc.Moreover, in an example, slot format indicating component 242 maydetermine and/or indicate a communication direction (e.g., downlink oruplink) for the flexible symbols of the slot in a separateconfiguration. As described, slot format indicating component 242 candetermine and/or transmit the indicator semi-statically, dynamically,etc., as the selected format may be UE-specific, group-specific, etc.For example, slot format indicating component 242 can transmit a slotformat or related indicator in a radio resource control (RRC) signal, adedicated control channel communication, and/or the like. In oneexample, slot format indicating component 242 may indicate an initialslot format and may override the initial slot format with a new slotformat in dynamic signaling.

Optionally, at Block 406, a second slot format for a second CP type canbe derived based on the first slot format. In an aspect, slot formatderiving component 244, e.g., in conjunction with processor(s) 205,memory 202, transceiver 270, multiplexing component 240, etc., canderive the second slot format for the second CP type based on the firstslot format. As described further herein, this may include interpolatingthe second slot format from the first slot format such that one or moresymbols are defined in the second slot format for downlink, uplink,flexible, etc. communications based on how symbols are defined in thefirst slot format. In another example, this may include selecting a slotformat for the second CP type that is indicated as compatible with (orotherwise mapped to) the first slot format for the first CP type, and/orthe like. In the latter example, the base station 105 can include (e.g.,stored in memory 202) a mapping between slot formats for the first CPtype (e.g., normal CP) and slot formats for the second CP type (e.g.,extended CP) that can be used to multiplex communications.

Moreover, for example, the CP types can have different numerologies, andcan thus be associated with different timelines for communications. Forexample, in 5G NR, communication resources can be defined as acollection of frequency resources (e.g., multiple subcarriers) over acollection of time resources (e.g., multiple OFDM symbols). In anexample, in 5G NR, a slot can be defined to include a plurality of OFDMsymbols that each have a number of subcarriers determined based on asubcarrier spacing, and the number of OFDM symbols in the slot can be atleast partially determined based on a CP type used for the slot (e.g.,normal CP, extended CP, etc.) In an example, 5G NR can support OFDMsymbol-level time division multiplexing of different CP types, asdescribed herein. Allocation of OFDM symbols in each numerology or CPtype can be based on a corresponding OFDM symbol grid, where the OFDMsymbol grid can be defined per 0.5 millisecond (ms) duration andrepeated every 0.5 ms.

For example, for a subcarrier spacing SCS_(NCP)=2^(μNCP). 15 [kHz], anormal CP symbol grid can be defined as:

$t_{k}^{NCP} = \left\{ {{{\begin{matrix}{0,} & {k = 0} \\{{{16\; T_{s}} + {k \cdot T_{symb}^{NCP}}},} & {otherwise}\end{matrix}T_{s}} = {{{1/{\left( {30.72 \times 10^{6}} \right)\left\lbrack \sec \right\rbrack}}T_{symb}^{NCP}} = {{\left( {2048 + 144} \right){T_{s}/{2^{\mu{NCP}}\left\lbrack \sec \right\rbrack}}k} = 0}}},\ldots\mspace{14mu},{{7 \cdot 2^{\mu{NCP}}} - {1\left( {0.5\mspace{14mu}{ms}\mspace{14mu}{span}} \right)}}} \right.$In another example, for a subcarrier spacing SCS_(ECP)=2^(μECP). 15[kHz], an extended CP symbol grid can be defined ast _(k) ^(ECP) =k·T _(symb) ^(ECP)T _(symb) ^(ECP)=(2048+512)T _(s)/2^(μECP)k=0, . . . ,6·2^(μECP)−1 (0.5 ms span)In 5G NR, for example, the same subcarrier spacing (SCS) can be assumedto be configured for different CP types (e.g., μ_(NCP)=μ_(ECP)), but itcan also be possible to configure different SCS for different CP types.In an example, uplink and downlink communications for either CP type canuse different SCS within a slot, and/or the different CP types can usedifferent SCS within a slot. In addition, sub-band level frequencydivision multiplexing of different CP types may be used. In any case,using symbol grids for normal CP and extended CP type communications, asdefined above, to determine symbol alignment within a slot andcorresponding slot formats can be desirable for coexistence betweenthese signals in 5G NR and normal/extended CP LTE signals.

For example, because the different CP types may have different numbersof symbols per slot (e.g., and thus may be associated with differenttimelines for a given slot), the symbol boundaries may not align, andderiving slot formats that are compatible (or mostly compatible) incommunication direction may be based on logic for resolving possibleconflicts where a symbol for one CP type overlaps symbols for the otherCP type that have different communication directions (e.g., downlink,uplink, flexible, etc.). In an example, slot format deriving component244 can derive slot format for the second CP type based on the slotformat for the first CP type using this logic, or the slot formats maybe associated in a configuration and the association may be based on thelogic.

An example is shown in FIG. 6, which illustrates slot formats 600, 610for normal CP and corresponding slot formats 602, 612 for extended CPthat may be defined as compatible with the slot formats 600, 610. Asshown, slot formats 600, 610 can be defined based on a numerology of 14OFDM symbols per slot (e.g., for normal CP) and can correspond,respectively, to slot formats 27 and 55 defined in 5G NR. In addition,for example, slot formats 602, 612 can be defined based on a numerologyof 12 OFDM symbols per slot (e.g., for extended CP). In the depictedexample, slot formats 600, 602 can have some level of compatibility (orcan be said to be compatible) such that at least some symbols in slotformat 600 having a certain communication direction (e.g., downlink,uplink, or flexible) overlap, in a time domain, with at least some othersymbols in slot format 602 having a similar communication direction.Similarly, slot formats 610, 612 similarly have a level ofcompatibility. In an example, the slot formats 600, 602 can be definedfor 5G NR communication, and can be associated with one another, in aconfiguration, as compatible slot formats (and similarly slot formats610, 612). In another example, however, slot format deriving component244 can interpolate slot format 602 for extended CP based on thedetermined slot format determined and/or indicated by slot formatindicating component 242. The interpolation may be performed based on aset of rules, which may be configured at the base station 105 or UE 115,provided to the UE 115 in a configuration from the base station 105,and/or the like, for example. Using the rules for determining slotformat(s), for example, can help to avoid severeinter-symbol/inter-carrier interference between the communications.

FIG. 7 illustrates partial slot formats depicting examples of rules fordetermining communication direction for symbols in an extended CP slotformat based on a determined or indicated normal CP slot format. Forexample, as shown at 700, when two downlink symbols in the normal CPslot format overlap a symbol in the extended CP slot format, the symbolin the extended CP slot format can be interpolated as a downlink symbol.For example, as shown at 702, when two uplink symbols in the normal CPslot format overlap a symbol in the extended CP slot format, the symbolin the extended CP slot format can be interpolated as an uplink symbol.

For example, when a downlink symbol and an adjacent flexible symbol inthe normal CP slot format overlap a symbol in the extended CP slotformat, the symbol in the extended CP slot format can be interpolated asa downlink symbol, as shown at 704, or a flexible symbol, as shown at706. Similarly, for example, when an uplink symbol and an adjacentflexible symbol in the normal CP slot format overlap a symbol in theextended CP slot format, the symbol in the extended CP slot format canbe interpolated as an uplink symbol, as shown at 708, or a flexiblesymbol, as shown at 710. In an example, rules for determining whetherthe symbol in the extended slot format is downlink/uplink or flexiblemay be based on one or more measureable criteria, such as a portion ofthe symbol in the normal CP slot format that overlaps the symbol in theextended CP slot format (e.g., the symbol in the extended CP format caninterpolated as downlink/uplink where more of the downlink/uplink symbolin the normal CP slot format overlaps the symbol in the extended CPformat than does the flexible symbol).

In another example, when a downlink symbol and an adjacent uplink symbolin the normal CP slot format overlap a symbol in the extended CP slotformat, the symbol in the extended CP slot format can be interpolated asa downlink symbol as shown at 712, an uplink symbol, as shown at 714, ora reserved symbol (e.g., where a reserved symbol can indicate anytransmitting or receiving over the symbol is forbidden), as shown at716. In an example, rules for determining whether the symbol in theextended slot format is downlink, uplink, or reserved may indicate orotherwise be based on one or more measureable criteria, such as aportion of the symbol in the normal CP slot format that overlaps thesymbol in the extended CP slot format, an interference criteria, and/orthe like. In any case, in a specific example, slot format derivingcomponent 244 can derive slot format 602 from slot format 600, and/orcan derive slot format 612 based on slot format 610, using the set ofrules. In any case, the derived slot format for the second CP (e.g.,extended CP) can have at least some level of compatibility with thefirst slot format for the first CP (e.g., normal CP) such that at leastsome overlapping symbols can have at least some portion of time with thesame communication direction (or one or more reserved symbols over whichcommunication is not allowed). This can allow transmissions from a basestation (or from a UE) that are separately based on the first CP and thesecond CP to be multiplexed and/or otherwise coexist in a slot. In oneexample, the base station 105 (e.g., via multiplexing component 240) canconfigure the UE 115 with the one or more rules, or some indication asto the one or more rules, (e.g., via RRC or higher layer signaling) toensure the UE 115 can derive the second slot format based on the firstslot format as well. In this example, the rules may be UE-specific,based on an indicated UE-capability (e.g., indicated via RRC or higherlayer signaling), etc.

Referring back to FIG. 4, optionally at Block 408, an indicator for thesecond slot format can be transmitted. In an aspect, slot formatderiving component 244, e.g., in conjunction with processor(s) 205,memory 202, transceiver 270, multiplexing component 240, etc., cantransmit the indicator of the second slot format. For example, slotformat deriving component 244 can transmit the indicator to one or moreUEs 115 by using an indicator in a configuration or related signaling,such as in downlink control information (DCI) in a downlink controlchannel (e.g., PDCCH), a value map with values indicating acommunication direction for each symbol in the second slot format, etc.

In method 400, at Block 410, a first communication based on the first CPtype and a second communication based on the second CP type can bemultiplexed within a slot. In an aspect, multiplexing component 240,e.g., in conjunction with processor(s) 205, memory 202, transceiver 270,etc., can multiplex, within the slot, the first communication based onthe first CP type and the second communication based on the second CPtype. As described, the first communication may be prepared fortransmission based on a first slot format and timeline associated withthe first CP, such that the first communication can be prepared fortransmission in a symbol with an appropriate communication direction(e.g., downlink for base station 105 transmissions or uplink for UE 115transmissions). Similarly, the second communication may be prepared fortransmission based on a second slot format and timeline associated withthe second CP, such that the second communication can be prepared fortransmission in a symbol with an appropriate communication direction(e.g., downlink for base station 105 transmissions or uplink for UE 115transmissions). The first and second communications can be multiplexedfor transmission in the same slot. In one specific example, the firstand second communications may overlap in a time domain within the slotand their corresponding symbols may be associated with the samecommunication direction based on the defined slot formats.

In method 400, at Block 412, within the slot, the first communicationcan be transmitted based on a first timeline and the secondcommunication can be transmitted based on a second timeline. In anaspect, multiplexing component 240, e.g., in conjunction withprocessor(s) 205, memory 202, transceiver 270, etc., can transmit,within the slot, the first communication based on the first timeline andthe second communication based on the second timeline. In this regard,the first communication and second communication can be transmitted insymbols of the first and second timelines, respectively, that can occurwithin the same slot. Additionally, as described, the base station 105can include components to additionally receive a multiplexed firstcommunication (based on a first CP type) and second communication (basedon a second CP type) from a UE 115 within the slot.

In an example, transmitting the first and second communication at Block412 may optionally include, at Block 414, defining one or more time gapsbetween the first communication and the second communication. In anaspect, multiplexing component 240, e.g., in conjunction withprocessor(s) 205, memory 202, transceiver 270, etc., can define the oneor more time gaps between the first communication and the secondcommunication. For example, multiplexing component 240 can define theone or more time gaps, during which communications can be prohibited, tosomewhat align the first communication with the first timeline (e.g.,with a symbol boundary of the first timeline) and/or the secondcommunication with the second timeline (e.g., with a symbol boundary ofthe second timeline) to minimize occurrence of conflicting symboldirections in respective slot formats. An example is shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a timeline 800 for communicating basedon a first timeline for a normal CP type (including 14 OFDM symbols) anda second timeline for an extended CP type (including 12 OFDM symbols).In this example, after transmitting extended CP (ECP) control 802 andECP data 804 in the first three symbols of the extended CP timeline,multiplexing component 240 can define the time gap (e.g., guard time806) before transmitting normal CP (NCP) communications 808 to align thecommunications 808 at a fifth symbol of the NCP timeline, and NCPcommunications 810 at the seventh symbol. As shown, the time gap caninclude a fraction of an OFDM symbol in one timeline or the other suchto align with the next OFDM symbol boundary. Similarly, multiplexingcomponent 240 can define the time gap (e.g., guard time 812) beforetransmitting additional ECP data 814 to align the ECP data 814 with thetenth symbol of the ECP timeline.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart an example of a method 500 for receivingand/or decoding (e.g., by a UE) communications having different CPtypes. In an example, a base station can also perform the functionsdescribed in method 500 and/or include the corresponding components ofFIG. 3 to receive and decode multiplexed communications having differentCP types.

In method 500, optionally at Block 502, a first slot format indicatorcan be received. In an aspect, slot format determining component 342,e.g., in conjunction with processor(s) 305, memory 302, transceiver 370,communicating component 340, etc., can receive the first slot formatindicator. For example, slot format determining component 342 canreceive the first slot format indicator from a configuration, in acontrol channel communication (e.g., from a base station 105), and/orthe like. In one example, as described, the indicator may be a valueindicated in a configuration, where the value may correspond to a slotformat defined in 5G NR (e.g., slot format 27 or 55, as shown in FIG.6). In another example, the indicator may include a value map where eachvalue indicates whether a corresponding symbol in the slot is downlink,uplink, flexible, etc. As described, slot format determining component342 can receive or otherwise determine the indicator semi-statically,dynamically, etc. (e.g., in RRC signaling, dedicated control signaling,etc.), as the selected format may be UE-specific, group-specific, etc.

In method 500, optionally at Block 504, a first slot format for a firstCP type can be determined based on the first slot format indicator. Inan aspect, slot format determining component 342, e.g., in conjunctionwith processor(s) 305, memory 302, transceiver 370, communicatingcomponent 340, etc., can determine the first slot format for the firstCP type based on the first slot format indicator. For example, the slotformat determining component 342 can determine a communication direction(e.g., downlink, uplink, flexible, etc.) for each symbol in a slot basedon the slot format indicator. In addition, in an example, the slotformat determining component 342 may determine a communication for theflexible symbols based on a separate configuration (e.g., from the basestation 105, etc.). The symbols can be aligned with a symbol gridcorresponding to the first CP type (e.g., based on a number of symbolsconfigured for the first CP type).

In method 500, optionally at Block 506, a second slot format can bederived. In an aspect, slot format deriving component 344, e.g., inconjunction with processor(s) 305, memory 302, transceiver 370,communicating component 340, etc., can derive the second slot format.For example, the slot format deriving component 344 can derive thesecond slot format based on the first slot format (e.g., based on one ormore rules as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7). In an example,in this regard, the base station 105 and the UE 115 can use the same ora similar set of rules, as described above, to derive the second slotformat based on the first slot format to ensure the base station 105 andUE 115 derive the same slot formats. In one example, slot formatderiving component 344 can receive the set of rules, or some indicatoras to the set of rules, (e.g., via RRC or higher layer signaling) fromthe base station 105. In an example, in this regard, the set of rulesmay be UE-specific and/or based on an indicated UE capability (e.g.,indicated via RRC or higher layer signaling). In another example, slotformat deriving component 344 can derive the second slot format based ona separate slot format indicator configured for the second slot format(e.g., received in a configuration from a base station 105, which mayinclude a value indicating the format, a value map indicating acommunication direction for each symbol in the slot, etc.).

In addition, the first slot format can relate to communications using afirst CP type, and the second slot format can relate to communicationsusing a second CP type. Moreover, in this regard, the first slot formatcan be based on a first timeline associated with the first CP type andthe second slot format can be based on a second timeline associated withthe second CP type, where the first and second timelines may bedifferent based on having a different number of symbols per slot. Thesymbols can be aligned with a symbol grid corresponding to the second CPtype (e.g., based on a number of symbols configured for the second CPtype). As described, the symbol grids for the first and second CP typesmay not be aligned within a slot. In any case, the UE and base stationcan communicate based on the determined symbol locations andcommunication directions.

For example, this can include, at Block 508, receiving a firstcommunication according to a first timeline and/or first slot formatbased on a first CP type. In an aspect, communicating component 340,e.g., in conjunction with processor(s) 305, memory 302, transceiver 370,etc., can receive the first communication (e.g., a transmission from thebase station 105) according to a first timeline and/or first slot formatbased on a first CP type (e.g., based on determining the symbol is adownlink symbol for the first CP type). As described, the first slotformat for the first CP type can include symbols with a specifiedcommunication direction, and the communicating component 340 can receivethe first communication in the symbol having the appropriatecommunication direction (e.g., downlink for a UE receiving the signal oruplink for a base station receiving the signal).

Communicating based on the determined symbol locations and communicationdirections may also include, at Block 510, receiving a secondcommunication according to a second timeline and/or second slot formatbased on a second CP type, where the second communication is multiplexedwith the first communication in the same slot. In an aspect,communicating component 340, e.g., in conjunction with processor(s) 305,memory 302, transceiver 370, etc., can receive the second communication(e.g., another transmission) according to the second timeline and/orsecond slot format based on the second CP type (e.g., based ondetermining the symbol is a downlink symbol for the second CP type). Thesecond communication can be multiplexed with the first communication inthe same slot, as described, and may thus be transmitted in symbols ofrespective timelines, which may have a same communication direction(e.g., downlink for a UE receiving the signal or uplink for a basestation receiving the signal). As described, the second slot format forthe second CP type can include symbols with a specified communicationdirection, which may overlap in time with symbols of the first slotformat having the same specified communication direction. Thus, thecommunicating component 340 can receive the first communication in afirst symbol according to the first timeline and the secondcommunication in a second symbol according to the second timeline, whichmay have the same communication direction and/or may overlap in a timedomain or otherwise (e.g., downlink for a UE receiving the signal oruplink for a base station receiving the signal). In one example,communicating component 340 can receive the first and secondcommunications subject to one or more time gaps, as described inreference to FIG. 8, that can separate the communications such that thecommunications can align with appropriate symbol boundaries for theirassociated timelines defined based on their associated CP types.Additionally, as described, the UE 115 can include components toadditionally transmit, within the slot, a multiplexed firstcommunication (based on a first CP type) and second communication (basedon a second CP type) to the base station 105.

In method 500, at Block 512, the first communication can be decodedbased on a first length of the first CP type, and at Block 514, thesecond communication can be decoded based on a second length of thesecond CP type. In an aspect, communicating component 340, e.g., inconjunction with processor(s) 305, memory 302, transceiver 370, etc.,can decode the first communication based on the first length of thefirst CP type and can decode the second communication based on thesecond length of the second CP type. For example, communicatingcomponent 340 can use the appropriate length of the given CP to verifythe received signal and/or to determine missing data from the beginningof the signal based on data at the end of the signal corresponding tothe CP length.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a MIMO communication system 900 including abase station 105 and a UE 115. The MIMO communication system 900 mayillustrate aspects of the wireless communication system 100 describedwith reference to FIG. 1. The base station 105 may be an example ofaspects of the base station 105 described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.The base station 105 may be equipped with antennas 934 and 935, and theUE 115 may be equipped with antennas 952 and 953. In the MIMOcommunication system 900, the base station 105 may be able to send dataover multiple communication links at the same time. Each communicationlink may be called a “layer” and the “rank” of the communication linkmay indicate the number of layers used for communication. For example,in a 2×2 MIMO communication system where base station 105 transmits two“layers,” the rank of the communication link between the base station105 and the UE 115 is two.

At the base station 105, a transmit (Tx) processor 920 may receive datafrom a data source. The transmit processor 920 may process the data. Thetransmit processor 920 may also generate control symbols or referencesymbols. A transmit MIMO processor 930 may perform spatial processing(e.g., precoding) on data symbols, control symbols, or referencesymbols, if applicable, and may provide output symbol streams to thetransmit modulator/demodulators 932 and 933. Each modulator/demodulator932 through 933 may process a respective output symbol stream (e.g., forOFDM, etc.) to obtain an output sample stream. Eachmodulator/demodulator 932 through 933 may further process (e.g., convertto analog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) the output sample stream toobtain a DL signal. In one example, DL signals frommodulator/demodulators 932 and 933 may be transmitted via the antennas934 and 935, respectively.

The UE 115 may be an example of aspects of the UEs 115 described withreference to FIGS. 1-3. At the UE 115, the UE antennas 952 and 953 mayreceive the DL signals from the base station 105 and may provide thereceived signals to the modulator/demodulators 954 and 955,respectively. Each modulator/demodulator 954 through 955 may condition(e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, and digitize) a respective receivedsignal to obtain input samples. Each modulator/demodulator 954 through955 may further process the input samples (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) toobtain received symbols. A MIMO detector 956 may obtain received symbolsfrom the modulator/demodulators 954 and 955, perform MIMO detection onthe received symbols, if applicable, and provide detected symbols. Areceive (Rx) processor 958 may process (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave,and decode) the detected symbols, providing decoded data for the UE 115to a data output, and provide decoded control information to a processor980, or memory 982.

The processor 980 may in some cases execute stored instructions toinstantiate a communicating component 340 (see e.g., FIGS. 1 and 3).

On the uplink (UL), at the UE 115, a transmit processor 964 may receiveand process data from a data source. The transmit processor 964 may alsogenerate reference symbols for a reference signal. The symbols from thetransmit processor 964 may be precoded by a transmit MIMO processor 966if applicable, further processed by the modulator/demodulators 954 and955 (e.g., for SC-FDMA, etc.), and be transmitted to the base station105 in accordance with the communication parameters received from thebase station 105. At the base station 105, the UL signals from the UE115 may be received by the antennas 934 and 935, processed by themodulator/demodulators 932 and 933, detected by a MIMO detector 936 ifapplicable, and further processed by a receive processor 938. Thereceive processor 938 may provide decoded data to a data output and tothe processor 940 or memory 942.

The processor 940 may in some cases execute stored instructions toinstantiate a multiplexing component 240 (see e.g., FIGS. 1 and 2).

The components of the UE 115 may, individually or collectively, beimplemented with one or more ASICs adapted to perform some or all of theapplicable functions in hardware. Each of the noted modules may be ameans for performing one or more functions related to operation of theMIMO communication system 900. Similarly, the components of the basestation 105 may, individually or collectively, be implemented with oneor more ASICs adapted to perform some or all of the applicable functionsin hardware. Each of the noted components may be a means for performingone or more functions related to operation of the MIMO communicationsystem 900.

The above detailed description set forth above in connection with theappended drawings describes examples and does not represent the onlyexamples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of theclaims. The term “example,” when used in this description, means“serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred”or “advantageous over other examples.” The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of thedescribed techniques. These techniques, however, may be practicedwithout these specific details. In some instances, well-known structuresand apparatuses are shown in block diagram form in order to avoidobscuring the concepts of the described examples.

Information and signals may be represented using any of a variety ofdifferent technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions,commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may bereferenced throughout the above description may be represented byvoltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles,optical fields or particles, computer-executable code or instructionsstored on a computer-readable medium, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and components described in connectionwith the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with aspecially-programmed device, such as but not limited to a processor, adigital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, a FPGA or other programmablelogic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic, a discrete hardwarecomponent, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. A specially-programmed processor may be amicroprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be anyconventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. Aspecially-programmed processor may also be implemented as a combinationof computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor,multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunctionwith a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may bestored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on anon-transitory computer-readable medium. Other examples andimplementations are within the scope and spirit of the disclosure andappended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, functionsdescribed above can be implemented using software executed by aspecially programmed processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, orcombinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may alsobe physically located at various positions, including being distributedsuch that portions of functions are implemented at different physicallocations. Also, as used herein, including in the claims, “or” as usedin a list of items prefaced by “at least one of” indicates a disjunctivelist such that, for example, a list of “at least one of A, B, or C”means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C).

Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media andcommunication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of acomputer program from one place to another. A storage medium may be anyavailable medium that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation,computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desiredprogram code means in the form of instructions or data structures andthat can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer,or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connectionis properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if thesoftware is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote sourceusing a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digitalsubscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio,and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave areincluded in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

The previous description of the disclosure is provided to enable aperson skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Variousmodifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the common principles defined herein may beapplied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scopeof the disclosure. Furthermore, although elements of the describedaspects and/or embodiments may be described or claimed in the singular,the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular isexplicitly stated. Additionally, all or a portion of any aspect and/orembodiment may be utilized with all or a portion of any other aspectand/or embodiment, unless stated otherwise. Thus, the disclosure is notto be limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:receiving a slot format indicator indicating a first slot format forcommunications of a first cyclic prefix (CP) type in a slot, wherein thefirst slot format indicates, for each of a first set of multiple symbolsin the slot, a communication direction as being one of uplink, downlink,or flexible; determining, according to the first slot format, a secondslot format for communications of a second CP type in the slot, whereinthe second slot format indicates, for each of a second set of one ormore symbols in the slot, a communication direction as being one ofuplink, downlink, or flexible, and wherein the second CP type isassociated with having a less number of symbols in the slot than thefirst CP type; receiving, in one or more of the first set of multiplesymbols in the slot indicated in the first slot format as a downlinksymbol, a first communication according to a first timeline, wherein thefirst timeline is associated with the first CP type; receiving, in thesecond set of one or more symbols in the slot determined to be adownlink symbol, a second communication according to a second timeline,wherein the second timeline is associated with the second CP type, andwherein the second communication is multiplexed with the firstcommunication in the slot; decoding the first communication according toa first length of the first CP type; and decoding the secondcommunication according to a second length of the second CP type.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein receiving the slot format indicator includesreceiving the slot format indicator in radio resource control signalingfrom a base station.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining thesecond slot format is further based on receiving, from a base station, asecond slot format indicator.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining the second slot format comprises determining the second slotformat to comply with the first slot format such that: one or more firstslot format downlink symbols assigned for receiving downlinkcommunications in the first slot format at least partially overlap in atime domain with one or more second slot format downlink symbols in thesecond slot format; and one or more first slot format uplink symbolsassigned for transmitting uplink communications in the first slot formatat least partially overlap in the time domain with one or more secondslot format uplink symbols in the second slot format.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein determining the second slot format comprisesinterpolating the second slot format from the first slot format based onthe second timeline.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein interpolating thesecond slot format comprises determining a symbol in the second slotformat as the one or more second slot format downlink symbols based ondetermining the overlap in the time domain with multiple first slotformat downlink symbols of the one or more first slot format downlinksymbols in the first timeline.
 7. The method of claim 5, whereininterpolating the second slot format comprises determining a symbol inthe second slot format as the one or more second slot format uplinksymbols based on determining the overlap in the time domain withmultiple first slot format uplink symbols of the one or more first slotformat uplink symbols in the first timeline.
 8. The method of claim 5,wherein interpolating the second slot format comprises determining asymbol in the second slot format as a second slot format flexible symbolbased on determining an overlap in the time domain with multiple firstformat flexible symbols in the first timeline.
 9. The method of claim 5,wherein interpolating the second slot format comprises determining oneor more symbols in the second slot format as one or more second slotformat reserved symbols based on determining an overlap in the timedomain with both a first format downlink symbol and a first formatuplink symbol in the first timeline.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising receiving a configuration comprising one or more rules forinterpolating the second slot format, wherein determining the secondslot format is based at least in part on the one or more rules.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first slot format or thesecond slot format include one or more guard periods between a firstsymbol in the first timeline and a second symbol in the second timelineduring which communications are prohibited according to the at least oneof the first slot format or the second slot format.
 12. The method ofclaim 2, further comprising receiving a second slot format indicatorfrom which a second slot format is derived, wherein receiving the secondcommunication according to the second timeline is further based on thesecond slot format.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprisingmultiplexing, within the slot, a third communication based on the firstCP type and a fourth communication based on the second CP type; andtransmitting, within the slot, the third communication based on thefirst timeline and the fourth communication based on the secondtimeline.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: decoding thefirst communication based on a first subcarrier spacing associated withthe first CP type; and decoding the second communication based on asecond subcarrier spacing associated with the second CP type, whereinthe first subcarrier spacing is different than the second subcarrierspacing.
 15. A method for wireless communication, comprising:transmitting a slot format indicator indicating a first slot format forcommunications of a first cyclic prefix (CP) type in a slot, wherein thefirst slot format indicates, for each of a first set of multiple symbolsin the slot, a communication direction as being one of uplink, downlink,or flexible; determining, according to the first slot format, a secondslot format for communications of a second CP type in the slot, whereinthe second slot format indicates, for each of a second set of one ormore symbols in the slot, a communication direction as being one ofuplink, downlink, or flexible, and wherein the second CP type isassociated with having a less number of symbols in the slot than thefirst CP type; multiplexing, within a slot, a first communication,associated with the first CP type and a second communication associatedwith the second CP type; and transmitting, within the slot, the firstcommunication, according to a first timeline corresponding to the firstCP type and the first slot format, and the second communicationaccording to a second timeline corresponding to the second CP type andthe second slot format.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein determiningthe second slot format is further based on transmitting a second slotformat indicator.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining thesecond slot format comprises determining the second slot format tocomply with the first slot format such that: one or more first slotformat downlink symbols assigned for receiving downlink communicationsin the first slot format at least partially overlap in a time domainwith one or more second slot format downlink symbols in the second slotformat; and one or more first slot format uplink symbols assigned fortransmitting uplink communications in the first slot format at leastpartially overlap in the time domain with one or more second slot formatuplink symbols in the second slot format.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein determining the second slot format comprises interpolating thesecond slot format from the first slot format based on the secondtimeline.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein interpolating the secondslot format comprises determining a symbol in the second slot format asthe one or more second slot format downlink symbols based on determiningthe overlap in the time domain with multiple first slot format downlinksymbols of the one or more first slot format downlink symbols in thefirst timeline.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein interpolating thesecond slot format comprises determining a symbol in the second slotformat as the one or more second slot format uplink symbols based ondetermining the overlap in the time domain with multiple first slotformat uplink symbols of the one or more first slot format uplinksymbols in the first timeline.
 21. The method of claim 18, whereininterpolating the second slot format comprises determining a symbol inthe second slot format as a one or more second slot format flexiblesymbol based on determining an overlap in the time domain with multiplefirst format flexible symbols in the first timeline.
 22. The method ofclaim 18, wherein interpolating the second slot format comprisesdetermining one or more symbols in the second slot format as one or moresecond slot format reserved symbols based on determining an overlap inthe time domain with both a first format downlink symbol and a firstformat uplink symbol in the first timeline.
 23. The method of claim 15,wherein determining the second slot format comprises determining asecond slot format indicator indicated as compatible with the first slotformat.
 24. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting anindication of the second slot format.
 25. The method of claim 15,further comprising transmitting a configuration comprising one or morerules for interpolating the second slot format based on the first slotformat.
 26. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the firstcommunication and the second communication comprises defining one ormore guard periods between a first symbol in the first timeline and asecond symbol in the second timeline during which communications areprohibited according to the at least one of the first slot format or thesecond slot format.
 27. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting thefirst communication is based on a first subcarrier spacing associatedwith the first CP type, and transmitting the second communication isbased on a second subcarrier spacing associated with the second CP type,wherein the first subcarrier spacing is different than the secondsubcarrier spacing.
 28. An apparatus for wireless communication,comprising: a transceiver; a memory configured to store instructions;and one or more processors communicatively coupled with the transceiverand the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:receive a slot format indicator indicating a first slot format forcommunications of a first cyclic prefix (CP) type in a slot, wherein thefirst slot format indicates, for each of a first set of multiple symbolsin the slot, a communication direction as being one of uplink, downlink,or flexible; determine, according to the first slot format, a secondslot format for communications of a second CP type in the slot, whereinthe second slot format indicates, for each of a second set of one ormore symbols in the slot, a communication direction as being one ofuplink, downlink, or flexible, and wherein the second CP type isassociated with having a less number of symbols in the slot than thefirst CP type; receive, in one or more of the first set of multiplesymbols in the slot indicated in the first slot format as a downlinksymbol, a first communication according to a first timeline, wherein thefirst timeline is associated with the first CP type; receive, in thesecond set of one or more symbols in the slot determined to be adownlink symbol, a second communication according to a second timeline,wherein the second timeline is associated with the second CP type, andwherein the second communication is multiplexed with the firstcommunication in the slot; decode the first communication according to afirst length of the first CP type; and decode the second communicationaccording to a second length of the second CP type.
 29. An apparatus forwireless communication, comprising: a transceiver; a memory configuredto store instructions; and one or more processors communicativelycoupled with the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to: transmit a slot format indicatorindicating a first slot format for communications of a first cyclicprefix (CP) type in a slot, wherein the first slot format indicates, foreach of a first set of multiple symbols in the slot, a communicationdirection as being one of uplink, downlink, or flexible; determine,according to the first slot format, a second slot format forcommunications of a second CP type in the slot, wherein the second slotformat indicates, for each of a second set of one or more symbols in theslot, a communication direction as being one of uplink, downlink, orflexible, and wherein the second CP type is associated with having aless number of symbols in the slot than the first CP type; multiplex,within a slot, a first communication associated with the first CP typeand a second communication associated with the second CP type; andtransmit, within the slot, the first communication, according to a firsttimeline corresponding to the first CP type and the first slot format,and the second communication according to a second timelinecorresponding to the second CP type and the second slot format.